Nepenthes &#39;CANTNEPSUK&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Nepenthes Rafflesiana×sibuyansis  cultivar named ‘CANTNEPSUK’ is disclosed, characterized by exceptionally rapid growth. Plants tolerate a broad range of temperature and humidity, and can tolerate roots fully submerged in water. Ornamental pitchers are squat and uniquely dark purple and yellow. Plants form long tendrils. The new variety is a  Nepenthes rafflesiana×sibuyansis , normally produced as an ornamental indoor plant.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Nepenthes rafflesiana×sibuyansis

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘CANTNEPSUK’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Nepenthes rafflesiana×sibuyansis cultivar is the product of aplanned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Robert Cantley, inLindula, Sri Lanka. The objective of the breeding program was to producenovel Nepenthes varieties for ornamental commercial applications. Thecross resulting in this new variety was made December of 2008.

The seed parent is the unpatented unnamed Nepenthes rafflesiana. Thepollen parent is unpatented unnamed Nepenthes sibuyansis. The newvariety was selected May 18, 2011 by the inventor at a commercialnursery in Lindula, Sri Lanka.

Asexual reproduction of the selected new cultivar was performed bymeristem tissue culture after selection in 2011. Asexual reproduction ofthis variety was first performed at a commercial laboratory in Lindula,Sri Lanka. Subsequently, many generations have been produced viameristem tissue culture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘CANTNEPSUK’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘CANTNEPSUK’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘CANTNEPSUK’ as a new and distinctRafflesiana×sibuyansis cultivar:

1. Exceptionally rapid growth.2. Broad range of temperature tolerance3. Increased tolerance of lower humidity for pitcher production.4. Plants can be grown with roots completely submerged in water,allowing for aquaponics and a other alternative media.5. Mature plants form pitchers colored near Purple N77A andGreyed-Purple 187A.6. Squat picture shape.7. Pitcher wing coloration including Purple N77A, Greyed-Purple 187A andYellow-Green 145C.8. Distinctive rib formation on peristome.9. Pitcher lid coloration near Yellow 2D.10. Long tendrils.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CANTNEPSUK’ are similar to plants of theseed parent, Nepenthes rafflesiana in some horticulturalcharacteristics. Plants of the new cultivar ‘CANTNEPSUK’ however, have asignificantly different combination of phenotypic traits. Some of thesedifferences include:

1. The new variety reliably produces pitchers in lower humiditysituations.2. The new variety has more purple coloration throughout pitcher.3. The new variety tolerates a wider temperature range than the seedparent.4. The new variety has a shorter pitcher length.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CANTNEPSUK’ are similar to plants of thepollen parent, Nepenthes sibuyansis in some horticulturalcharacteristics. Plants of the new cultivar ‘CANTNEPSUK’ however, have asignificantly different combination of phenotypic traits. Some of thesedifferences include:

1. The new variety reliably produces pitchers in lower humiditysituations.2. The new variety has a purple pitcher lid, compared to typical redpitcher lid of the pollen parent species.3. The new variety has longer tendrils.4. The new variety tolerates a wider temperature range than the seedparent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CANTNEPSUK’ are comparable to the unpatentedcommercial variety Nepenthes ‘Linda’. The two varieties are similar insome horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety‘CANTNEPSUK’ differs in the following:

1. Pitcher color of the new variety is purple to greyed-purple whereaspitcher color of this comparator is red to greyed-red.2. The new variety reliably produces pitchers in lower humiditysituations.3. The new variety tolerates a wider temperature range than the seedparent.4. The new variety has a shorter pitcher length.5. The new variety has longer tendrils.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CANTNEPSUK’ can also be compared to theunpatented commercial variety Nepenthes rafflesiana×sibuyansis ‘Habana’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,4643 P3). The two Nepenthes varieties are similarin most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety‘CANTNEPSUK’ differs in the following:

1. Pitcher color of the new variety is purple to greyed-purple whereaspitcher color of this comparator is red to greyed-red.2. The new variety reliably produces pitchers in lower humiditysituations.3. The new variety tolerates a wider temperature range than the seedparent.4. The new variety has a shorter pitcher length.5. The new variety has longer tendrils.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘CANTNEPSUK’ grown in a greenhouse, in a 13 cm basket,with urns. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques andalthough colors may appear different from actual colors due to lightreflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographictechniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘CANTNEPSUK’ plants grown in a shade andinsect screened nursery. The growing temperature ranged from 25° C. to30° C. day and rom 12° C. to 15° C. during the night. Plants were shadedwith 70% shadecloth. The nursery elevationis 4,500 feet (1450 m) and 5deg north of the equator. No supplemental light given. Measurements andnumerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Nepenthes rafflesiana×sibuyansis    ‘CANTNEPSUK’-   Propagation:    -   -   Type of propagation typically used.—Meristem tissue culture.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 42 days at approximately 25°            C.        -   Time to produce rooted plantlet.—Approximately 16 weeks at            approximately 20° C. to 30° C.-   Plant:    -   -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 3 years, mature            specimen.        -   Container size of the plant described.—8 inch.        -   Overall plant shape or growth habit.—Single stem, outwardly            arching leaves. Radially occurring pitchers hanging from            plant.        -   Plant height.—Average 60 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—Average 64 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Plants approximately 7 cm tall can grow            approximately 1 cm per month in diameter. This growth            continues up to 20 cm approximately. This can significantly            vary with the use of fertilizers and different growing            media.        -   Branching characteristics.—No branching. Leaves emerge in            immature plants directly from the base of the plant. The            growing tip vines upwards and develops into a new leaf and a            vining stem develops with inter-nodal distance between each            new leaf.        -   Number of leaves per plant.—Approximately 12 leaves in 3 yr.            old specimen with basal shoots.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Whorled. Quantity: Approximately 10 per            main branch. Average Length: Mature length approximately            38.5 cm. Average Width: Approximately 5.0 cm. Shape of            blade: Narrow elliptic. Apex: Acuminate, developing into            tendril. Base: Attenuate. Attachment: Petiolate. Margin:            Entire. Texture of top surface: Smooth, 4 longitudinal            veins, occurring 2 on each side of the mid rib. Texture of            bottom surface: Smooth with sparse, irregularly occurring            nectar glands. Plant Leaf Color: Young foliage upper side:            Near RHS Young foliage under side: Near RHS Mature foliage            upper side: Near RHS Mature foliage under side: Near RHS            Venation: Type: Parallel Venation color upper side: Near RHS            Venation color under side: Near RHS Petiole: Average Length:            Approximately 1.5-2 cm. Basal leaf petiole around 5 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 0.15 cm. Color: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 146D.-   Flower: True flowers not observed. Flowering occurs only in older    plants. Pitcher/Urn    -   -   Longevity on plant.—        -   Quantity of pitchers.—3 to 4.        -   Shape.—Asymmetrical, squat urn.        -   Urn.—Height: Approximately 16 cm. Width: Approximately 6 cm.-   Reproductive organs: Not observed to date.-   Other characteristics: Tolerance for a wider range of temperatures    than typical of Nepenthes. Tolerance of roots in sitting water.    Tolerance for lower humidity without a stop of pitcher production.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar ofRafflesiana×sibuyansis plant named ‘CANTNEPSUK’ as herein illustratedand described.